Learn to cook traditional Italian dishes during this Tuscan cooking class in Siena. From homemade pastas to juicy cuts of meat, a professional chef leads you through a combination of family-favorite recipes and time-tested dishes, culminating with a shared meal and excellent wine. This class is held in a professional kitchen and limited to a small group of 15 people or fewer for a more intimate experience.

Tuscan cooking class in Sienna
Cook traditional Italian dishes under the guidance of a professional chef
Vegetarian option available
Transform fresh, local ingredients into a delicious meal
Enjoy your dishes paired with an excellent wine at the end of the class
Small-group tour limited to 15 people or fewer

Sample Menu

Starter

Bruschette-Crostini toscani

Toasted bread with topping or garlic bread

Starter

Pappa col pomodoro

A traditional soup.

Main

Pici with Cinta Senese sauce

A typical fresh pasta with a meat sauce.

Main

Tagliata di Chianina con tortino di verdure

Meat cut 'Chianina' with vegetable pie.

Dessert

Typical cakes from Siena

typical medeival cakes from Siena. Tiramisù

What's Included

4 - hour Tuscan cooking class in Siena
Prepare from starter to dessert
fresh home-made pasta.
After the lesson dinner with prepared meals accompanied by an excellent chianti wine
Small-group cooking class with a maximum of 15 people
The Lella's cooking school is large and well equipped

Transportation to/from attractions

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Scuola di Cucina di Lella di Lella Cesari Ciampoli snc
Via Fontebranda, 69, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
Siena, Via Fontebranda Address: Scuola di Cucina di Lella Via Fontebranda 69 - 53100 SIENA • Tuscany • ITALY

Start time

04:00 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Transport is wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

116 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 116 reviews

The food we prepared was...

Carol_T, Mar 2023

The food we prepared was delicious and the instructors did a good job explaining everything to us regarding the preparation.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

The Cucina Povera Toscana is, in reality, very rich and passes on a heritage of cultural as well as gastronomic values. My recipes refer to our past which was poor but ingenious, buying little and inventing a lot. I am happy that you liked them and I thank you for your kind words. lella

Learn why the food in Italy is so fabulous!

Mary_I, Feb 2023

My husband and I took this class in February 2023 and it was a fantastic evening! The class is a combination of hands-on and demonstration and takes place in a cooking school. Lella and Francesco were our professional instructors and taught us a lot of useful techniques. As we were the only two students, my husband and I were able to ask lots of questions which were all graciously answered. We were given all the recipes and I even took notes as we went along. In the four hours, we made a delicious multi course meal with very fresh ingredients-and like other reviewers have noted, it truly was the best of our trip. We will try to recreate all the dishes now that we are back home. Our time with Lella and Francesco will be long remembered as a highlight of our time in Italy and hopefully will have lasting impact by improving the way we cook. Do not hesitate to sign up-it is absolutely worth the price.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Best cooking class

PETER_F, Nov 2022

Great afternoon with Francesca. Although there was only the two of us, we had fabulous day. Learnt so much and had incredible Italian food. Would recommend

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thank you. That’s very kind of you. lella

Best dinner you'll have in Tuscany

Rick_M, Nov 2022

This was easily the best dinner we had in two weeks in Tuscany. Not because I had a hand in it, it's because to the fresh ingredients and the expert advice from our instructor. There was more than enough food for each of us. We made a soup, a pasta dish, pork tenderloin and two desserts. Plus we had red wine to drink with or dinner. We were given the recipes for each entry to take home and try in our own kitchens. Great experience.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thanks for the kind words; it was a pleasure to have met you. I hope that in the future you will return again to my small, wonderful city where you will find a friend waiting for you lella

Amazingly fun experience

Dawn_T, Oct 2022

It ended up being just my husband and I - we had an awesome and personalized experience. We made a bunch of dishes including homemade pasta with a cheesey pepper sauce. It was so much fun and the food was delicious.. I highly recommend this class!

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thanks for your kind words. lella

Fun and lots to eat!

Marie_H, Oct 2022

My sister and I attended the cooking class. There were 14 participants. Layla the chef only spoke Italian but Julia was an excellent translator. We each made pici pasta (The chef took time to make sure our dough was just right.) and as a group made the traditional tomato and bread soup, chicken, and potatoes. We shared participation and it worked well. We were a congenial group and had lots of fun and almost too much food. The soup and pannacotta were the highlights for me. I would recommend.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thank you. That’s very kind of you. lella

Wonderful cooking experience

Karen_L, Oct 2022

Super fun time! Great team of 3 teaching us the recipes led by Lela the professional chef. Just the right mix of hands on and observing. Enjoyed eating what we made and can’t wait to try the recipes at home.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thanks a lot. lella

Great class!

Deborah_F, Oct 2022

The faculty were welcoming, and gave great explanations and hands on assistance. In addition to preparing these recipes, I picked up a few tips and techniques to use in other recipes. One caution -- it is not an easy place to find, so allow plenty of time!

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thank you for spending time with me. lella

Fun lesson

Angie_K, Oct 2022

I went with my daughter and we had a lovely time. We enjoyed making pasta, would of enjoyed more hands on but overall a very nice afternoon/evening and great value for money.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thanks for your kind words, and for spending time with me. lella

Cooking With Chef

Kay_C, Oct 2022

This was a fun cooking class in which a chef created a meal for us and we participated in the making of pasta dough and actual pasta. The meal was delicious at the end that we ate as a community. I only wish it was more hands-on, the description should be revised to reflect that as I have taken several cooking classes in Italy that were all hands-on. All in all a very good experience and excellent meal.

Fun hands on experience

Paul_L, Sep 2022

Great job explain good things but also hands on experience. . Food was wonderful and paired with wine was great experience.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Thanks for the kind words; it was a pleasure to have met you. I hope that in the future you will return again to my small, wonderful city where you will find a friend waiting for you lella

Bad taste in my mouth

lisa_d, Sep 2022

Don't believe picture. 12 at table around chef, but 12 more on folding chairs with little or no view. I guess its all about the $. But my experience was not the same as those at the island. Chef speaks no English but has been teaching the class for 10+ years. Doesnt want to talk to you, but wants your money. Didnt have enough supplies for 24 so used makeshift materials, and worked in another room, away from group. Ad says 4 to 8 pm but by 825 most of meal had not been served and we had to miss that as we contracted a driver for pickup at 8. Go to a small group farm villa for an authentic, personalized cooking class. You'll enjoy it much more than this. Total disappountment.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Dear Madam, you have written only half the truth and used words that you or she do not know well the meaning of or use them too lightly without thinking about the consequences that may ensue. She was part of a group of six who arrived late for class while another group, also of six, arrived on time; we have ascertained that the other group, the one who arrived on time, had NOT booked and had NOT said it while hers had done it. This situation created confusion and I apologized several times and asked you if you could come the next day. Faced with your impossibility, I proposed the return of the money or a situation arranged at best or to please everyone. By choosing to stay, knowing full well how things were, you accepted a contingent and particular situation. "Bad taste and bitter mouth" what does it mean? Didn't you like my dishes? Did your superfine palate find unwelcome flavors? Was the food too much or too little salty? Too much or too little pepper? Other? If she found that something was wrong she could tell right away and all the other people would be grateful to her too. For every self-respecting recipe, as you will find in any cookbook, indicating the cooking time of a dish, the word "about" is coupled to make it clear that some things could cook more or less longer than that indicated. In her lesson we made 5 or 6. I end by reminding her that I had proposed the return of the money and that accusing me of "wanting her money" seems to me unfair and offensive. Before writing a sentence, a word, please make sure of its meaning and the consequences that could derive from it. One last thing: you don't tell half-truths, you tell the truth or a whole lie. With regard lella

A great moment of sharing around cooking

Emmanuel_R, Aug 2022

A great moment of sharing around cooking with adorable people. Simple cooking with expert advice. Cooking we can redo ourselves in our own kitchen. A complete meal created that we finally share together. I recommend to do alone or with friends or family !

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you! Cooking is not just about eating but much, much more. It is a magical agreement in which history, art, culture, wisdom, harmony and love come together Lella

Great food and fun

Doug_L, Jul 2022

The intimate cooking experience is amazing. Food was awesome and being a part of the prep was great.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thanks for the kind words; it was a pleasure to have met you. I hope that in the future you will return again to my small, wonderful city where you will find a friend waiting for you lella

Great family bonding fun

Andrea_D, Jul 2022

This was an experience with family that we all loved. We learned a lot, and the food was excellent! We all want to go home and make the soup!

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thanks for the kind words; it was a pleasure to have met you. lella

Great time , fun...

Cameron_M, Jul 2022

Great time , fun experience , the host is excellent and makes feel being at a family house cooking dinner

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thanks, you hit the mark! is that's exactly what I want: that my guests to feel being in the family ! lella

Two thumbs up!

Michelle_A, Jun 2022

The instructors were wonderful and shared many tips. The meal we prepared and ate was delicious! Highly recommend this experience.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thanks for the kind words; it was a pleasure to have met you. lella

Wonderful family...

Toni_V, Jun 2022

Wonderful family experience Felt like I was cooking at home The meal was better than a restaurant Highly recommend

Response from Host, Jun 2022

Cooking is not just about eating but much, much more. It is a magical agreement in which history, art, culture, wisdom, harmony and love come together making a single dish Thank you lella

If you like cooking, having a learning experience eating food and having fun then this class is for you!!

Frank_K, Jun 2022

Enjoyable time with our instructor who provided usable information about cooking and in a fun format

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Cooking is not just about eating but much, much more. It is a magical agreement in which history, art, culture, wisdom, harmony and love come together

Great food and company!

Jeremy_M, Jun 2022

Fantastic experience, excellent instruction, recipes, great food and translation, a highlight of our Tuscan vacation!

Response from Host, Jun 2022

Thanks for the kind words; it was a pleasure to have met you. I hope that in the future you will return again to my small, wonderful city where you will find a friend waiting for you lella

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